Scribbles & Bits

I Caved, But I Had To (I Just Didn't Know It Yet)

So you see the beautiful pile of Yarn Pirate yarns I caved for!  As always, the colors are glorious, the yarn amazingly soft, and the workmanship excellent!  The colors (from top to bottom, left to right) are: Karma, Quicksilver, Sweetheart, Cocoa, Celery, and Posie. 

I was also extremely lucky to be the winner in her 500th item contest!    I won a beautiful limited edition colorway called 500 and she very generously knocked off shipping and sent me awesome goodies!  There's a tissue holder with the Jolly Roger emblazoned upon it, an awesome wee knitting book, and two delicious smelling soaps, peppermint and citrus spice by Burt's Bees!  Thank you so much, Georgia!  It is all so very awesome!

Now I said I had to cave but I didn't know it at the time.  This is true.  I caved because of the colorways, but now I can use an even better excuse.  I'm going to be having foot surgery (the first of apparently several) in a couple of weeks and will be on modified bed rest for a couple more (at least).  It was a bit of a surprise and it's all moving very quickly.  And I'm freaked out because I've never had any sort of surgery before and I'm going to have a general anesthesia and oh the scary things they (and lots of other people) tell you.  So I'm just sort of ignoring all that part and focusing on the afterwards.  Modified bed rest means major things to me: time to unabashedly craft (knit, cross stitch, embroider, whatnot), read, watch movies, and become a gamer (roxxor!!1!).  I will obviously need lots of yarn to get me through this time (and all the time I've been and will continue to spend waiting in the waiting rooms and offices to pass the "the dr. will be with you in a moment" moments).  Now having mentioned all that, that may also mean that posts will be even patchier than normal (I know, how is that possible?).  So, um, there ya go.

So Much to Say

When last we spoke, I'd been knitting so much that I split my left index finger.  It worked as an excuse to put it down since I'd had to frog all my 1x1 ribbing because of a dropped/mutilated stitch.  So I picked up my cross stitch project of the moment, the Celtic-inspired Greedy Cat Bell Pull.  Here is a previous picture so you can see what I accomplished in a week.  Not all that much progress, considering how much more I have to go.  The catch with embroidery and cross stitch for me is I like to use small needles that don't really distort the fabric much.  Small needles have small eyes which, somewhat surprisingly, are rather sharp, so after a lot of stitching, I get a weird sore spot/blister thing on my right index finger.  It was the perfect excuse to...

...pick up my sock again!  The spot on my left index finger had healed enough to safely pick up the needles again anyway.  The big injury (to my pride) was still a bit sore, but when one has insomnia at 3:30 in the morning on a Sunday, redoing ribbing is just as good an option as anything.  That picture shows just a smidge short of the 1.5 inches I'm aiming for.  The first half inch was accomplished during my insomnia (at least something valuable happened during that time!) and the rest during a self-imposed Are You Being Served marathon.  I love that show!  Maybe I'll have toasty warm socks by the end of this week!  Fantastic since I finally had to turn the heat on for a little bit yesterday!  Yay Autumn!!!!

Besides, I have to finish up this pair so I can get started on all the other pairs I'm planning (and buying yarn for!).  The latest edition is Shiver Me Timbers by Yarn Pirate!  It is a lovely combination of red, white, and a chocolate brown (and various shades in between).  The plan is for this pair to be knee highs!  In addition to the yarn being packaged in a cellophane bag with ribbons closing it up (no pic, I was too ready to rip the bag open!),  she sent a skeleton paratrooper that has really advanced my Halloween mood!  I tried to get an action shot, but I'm slow on the shutter (and the cat and the dog were starting to get in the middle of it.  Clearly the skeleton was dropping behind enemy lines). 

Stashing is Addictive

I've gone from no stash to a full on sock yarn stash!  Meet Rosie, another Yarn Pirate exclusive!  It's so easy with sock yarn.  It fits compactly into one space, it only takes a skein to make a whole project, and the projects are interesting!  I feel enormously competent knitting socks.  I feel like a real knitter and a bit pioneerish.  Does that sound odd?  Probably.  I've just had more of an urge to be self-sustaining and I guess this is contributing.  Anyway, this is the most colorful yarn in my stash yet!  I can't wait to see how it looks knitted up!  I guess it's a good thing I only have one set of size 1 DPNs or I'd have cast on every single one of these by now! 

Trying to Get Back Into A Rhythm

How could I wait so long to post when this showed up in my mailbox Thursday?  The colorway is String Theory, once again from Yarn Pirate!  I'm afraid I've become a bit addicted.  I suppose there are far worse vices, though, right? 

So what have I been doing with all this yarn?  Well, I started a sock in Shamrock! I still have about 1/2 an inch of cuff to complete before I get into the pattern.  Now, this may not seem like a lot accomplished, but in my defense, there was more.  This is actually my second time doing this cuff.  There was accidental frogging and sloppiness on my part so it just seemed simpler to start all over.  Even if it did mean even more knitting of my old nemesis, 1x1 ribbing.  But behold the close-up!  It looks so much neater!  And check out the striping going on!  Love it!  Now I can't believe I even waited to cast on.  Yes, that's the other reason there's not so much.  I admit: first sock, super nice yarn in a weight I've never used before, small needles, 1x1 ribbing.  I chickened out on myself a couple of times.  Wouldn't you?  Ridiculous, in hindsight. 

Favorite Fridays: New Yarn

Definitely my favorite thing this Friday is my addition to my stash!  These are the aforementioned skeins I purchased from Yarn Pirate!  From left to right, they are Brown Sugar, Tangle, Neapolitan, Mermaid, Earth and Ocean (dark), and Shamrock.  As you can see in this picture, I was so excited, I started unwrapping Shamrock before I remembered that I wanted to take pictures!  Note to self: practice re-twisting skeins.  Shamrock actually started all this a few days ago.  I saw it and couldn't get it out of my head, no matter how hard I tried.  I couldn't rationalize myself out of purchasing it.  I found myself worrying that in all my vacillation, someone had snatched it up.  When I started fretting, I knew I had to cave in.  Of course, when I want back, there were all these other gorgeous color ways...  I really had to fight myself to not grab up every single skein!  Very unusual behavior for me, but, now that I've seen and touched them, maybe not totally unwarranted.  And they got to me so fast!  They made a long, truly sucky day seem a distant memory!  Thank you, Yarn Pirate! I have to admit something that is apparently unusual for knitters: I don't have a true stash (at least not according to some definitions).  My stash is made up of leftover yarn from other projects or the occasional full skeins that are assigned to projects that I just haven't made yet (I still have a few months before Christmas!).  This is the first yarn I have ever purchased where I had no concrete idea of what I would do with it.  Vague ones immediately started forming: Brown Sugar socks for my best friend/old college roommate, a Mermaid-colored shawl for my grandmother, an Earth and Ocean hat for my grandfather.  However, now that I have them, I feel very possessive and greedy all of a sudden.  Whoops! 

Now I have to admit something else: I've never knitted socks before.  I'm trying to use this book, but reading over it, I don't see anything about decreasing s I get closer to the ankle.  Do I not worry about that?  I'm a bit scared to venture off and try to do a lot of math when I'm not even sure what I'm doing.  Also, an suggestions on an average length from the top of the cuff till the start of the heel bits?  She just says to knit about 1.5 inches of ribbing and then knit to desired length for the leg.  So maybe another 3 inches?  Maybe she does mention this somewhere and I just need to go back and re-read it.  Either way, I'm launching in this weekend!  Wahoo!  Have a great weekend everyone! 

Celebration!

Easing back into catching up with everyone.  It's been pretty exciting, actually, to have an accelerated view of what everyone's been up to!  Easing back into normal life, too.  I'm getting back into the kitchen: going through cookbooks and trying new recipes.  I remembered to bring some cross stitch with me to work on during lunch.  I'd really love to get the bell pull finished.  On the knitting front, I've still got the rug to finish, but for now I've got a no-brainer on the needles: a garter stitch dishtowel.  It's very slow going since it's very wide, but I can work on it while I watch TV and can pick it up and put it down quickly when the dog jumps into my lap or the pot of pasta starts boiling over. 

The most exciting development, though, is I bought more yarn!  I tend to think of it as a combination of celebration of the end of the freelance work (for now) and an early (very early) birthday present!  I bought the skeins from Yarn Pirate on Etsy.  She has gorgeous colorways!  I drooled over more than I bought.  Incidentally, she is a real sweetheart! And prompt!  I ordered yesterday and the yarn shipped yesterday! Priority!  So yes, in case the insane amount of exclamation points weren't enough of a hint, I heartily recommend doing business with her!  Within 3 business days, I shall cast on for a pair of socks!  There will be pictures of the skeins and the results, naturally!  I am so freakin' excited!  This is the perfect boost after 2.5 months of basically zero life and absolutely zero craftiness! 

200 Knitted Blocks Review

So I was going to talk about the 200 Knitted Blocks book.  The rug is the first project I'm using this book for.  So far, I'm basically pleased.  The directions for each square are certainly well-written and I love that any unusual abbreviations are explained right there in the notes for the square.  Some include helpful hints, like a pattern that will require a lot of blocking.  There are a number of styles: beaded, flat, lacy, applique.  This is all great because basically all the math has been done for you.  Use the same yarn and needles throughout your project and you will have as many squares of the same size as you can handle.  The book starts with an explanation of how to use it, working with texture and color, and some potential afghans and pillows that can be created with the various squares.  In addition, each square pattern has suggestions for blocks that would look nice with it.  My biggest complaint is the title.  Halfway through, the book seems to loose steam.  Starting with block 101, a block pattern is listed with a sidebar of the same block in three other color schemes.  So basically for every 4 blocks, you're really only getting one.  It's really more like 128 Knitted Blocks.  I'm also being kind by ignoring that earlier in the book many motifs show up multiple times with the only variation being stripe width or the addition of beads.  I'll call those different enough to actually count as their own block.  I'm not trying to be catty.  I know it's hard to come up with that many different blocks, adjusting stitch patterns so they fit just so, but the different color schemes just feel like a cop out.  I can't think of anyone who needs their hand held that much.  I wouldn't feel so strongly if some of the blocks had just been basic stuff like garter stitch, stockinette, or moss.  Yes, they're basic, but the bit of math would have been done.  Just cast on and go for it.  It's kind of funny, too, that they stuck all of those last.  I might not have even noticed as much if they'd been sprinkled through the book. 

All in all, I don't regret buying the book.  I'll get some other uses out of it.  There are some really lovely, creative blocks that make me think of all the potential knitting has.  My only complaint is there are, according to my count, 72 fewer truly unique blocks than the title suggests. 

I'm a Little Bit Random; I'm a Little Bit On Topic

At least I'm making progress on something!  There is the stuffed being I was working on earlier.  As a random side note, this is the first time I've ever used buttons as eyes.  I've always used safety eyes, embroidery, appliques, or beads.  No reason to not use buttons, just the others fit more.  But this time, the applique wasn't right, I didn't have any beads big enough, I didn't want to embroider them, and I couldn't find the right kind of safety eyes.  But these are really cute and kind of shiny and once I'm done, you probably won't be able to see much of the eyes anyway.  I have also provided a side view.  I think I will make some as Christmas gifts for some of the family. 

In other news, I still haven't actually backed the bookmark, so that's still the finished unfinished object of the moment.  I also didn't get the chance to take a picture of the embroidery I've been working on, but soon.  I'll probably end up finishing it this weekend, which means a new Lunch Break project.  I've actually been mentally sewing and embellishing an elephant and a couple more teddy bears, so those may get bumped up on the to-do list. 

And in other other news, I'm totally bummed that I had so much stuff to do this morning that by the time I finally got on-line, Angry Chicken was all sold out on her mail order.  Bummer bummer bummer.  I really wanted to subscribe.  At least there's next month!  Have a great weekend!

Bored Games

Well... lots of progress on the angel, but she still isn't finished yet.  I was going to take a picture of her (and the fabric I bought yesterday), but sleep overtook me.  So in the mean time, since I can't stand a pictureless post, look at the pretty snowflake and the classic peacock!  Bombay again.  Also, I may be off the posting routine until after Thanksgiving.  I'm going to be working from a much slower computer for a while and, depending on how slow it is, I may not be able to bear just sitting there for 5 minutes to uoload one picture or publish one entry.  But I'll definitely be back again by the Monday after Thanksgiving! 

And Now a Word From Our Sponsor....

Surprisingly, I haven't fallen off the face of the planet yet.  I was trying to refrain from posting until I completed the angel.  However, since both the project and my silence are stretching on, I figured I ought to say something.  So for today, a picture of a pretty elephant ornament (from Bombay again).  I would like to make a stuffed animal like this one day, but obviously not any time soon since I am sinking.....